Friday, September 11, 2015

The young man on the bench, seemingly
more interested in pedestrians on the other side of the street than
listening to words spoken in a somewhat harsh voice, left his
questioner hanging.

“You know . . . ?” the older man
continued, as if prompting was his business. “It generally refers
to actors. Film actors mainly,” he said, his right hand describing a small circle in the air. He paused, sharing the view across
the street while thoughts of aspect ratios flickered in his mind. “Pick an actor, any actor.”

The companion didn't respond.

“Right then, let's say . . . David Patrick
Kelly. A very good character actor. Still in the biz. So, the saying would go like this: 'Who's David Patrick Kelly? Get me David Patrick Kelly!! Get me a
young David Patrick Kelly! And then . . . Who's David Patrick
Kelly?” The man's laughter sounded like it came though a cabbage
shredder. A smoker's laugh. A smoker who possibly drank.

The companion shifted his weight and
looked down the street without a response.

“'Who's David Patrick Kelly?' Oh,
boy, that's a good one. It's just like fucking life isn't it?” He nodded to himself, his gaze shifting to the overcast sky as if
his aged, once handsome face was expecting a benediction.

The young man removed his earbuds,
raised himself, and walked a few steps over to the curb to await the
approaching bus.

Chumley's Rest

On Books

Henry James Quotes

The only success worth one's powder was success in the line of one's idiosyncrasy. Consistency was in itself distinction, and what was talent but the art of being completely whatever it was that one happened to be? One's things were characteristic or were nothing.

-The Next Time (Story originally published in The Yellow Book; issued in his collection Embarrassments, 1896.)

"We know too much about people in these days; we hear too much. Our ears, our minds, our mouths, are stuffed with personalities. Don't mind anything that anyone tells you about anyone else. Judge everyone and everything for yourself." (R. Touchett)